tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post2850341875256945683..comments2023-07-25T11:48:39.285-04:00Comments on The Free Motion Quilting Project: UFO Sunday #5 - Quilt for YOULeahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674869334249298532noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-74829610488476717102012-10-05T11:25:21.409-04:002012-10-05T11:25:21.409-04:00B - I clipped some of the fabric really close to t...B - I clipped some of the fabric really close to the stitching lines so it won't appear as wildly frayed in the photo.<br /><br />I also remember hearing we don't want excessive fraying for bed quilts because all the threads can clog your washer. But then what about rag quilts?<br /><br />I smell a Quilt Policy rule here and I plan to break it thoroughly. Stitch and slash was the best method to make James's quilt and I look forward to it getting as frayed and raggedy as possible!<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Leah<br />Leahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03674869334249298532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-85275050138853902332012-10-05T08:59:26.526-04:002012-10-05T08:59:26.526-04:00Leah, I've looking at James' quilt and I c...Leah, I've looking at James' quilt and I can't see raw edges on it at all. Did you just use the technique and then satin stitch around it. I'm following Carol Ann's course now and love the technique but I think for bed quilts that will be washed a lot you can't leave raw edges - or is that another Quilting Police myth?Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03455581355868457168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-66327188614955828112012-09-28T09:39:43.163-04:002012-09-28T09:39:43.163-04:00I just had to comment here. I made a 25th anniver...I just had to comment here. I made a 25th anniversary quilt for one of my sons and DIL. It was the first applique quilt I did with even an applique/vine and flower border. I SLAVED over it. For the backing I just sewed together all the 30s fabic I could find so I could get it out of the studio. When I sent it to them I asked for a picture of them with the quilt. The picture was of the back. She said she liked that side best. I was crushed. However, I remembered that my mantra has been "once a gift is given it is theirs to do with what they want." However, it makes a difference in what future gifts I make/send. ;-)Gari in ALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07695711731891676422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-13881742276454190642012-09-28T06:42:34.061-04:002012-09-28T06:42:34.061-04:00I started quilting because I loved quilts and I &#...I started quilting because I loved quilts and I 'wanted' one. I found out that I also liked making them, and I have given many many away. I realize though that many of the people I give them to have never thought about quilts or wanted one. I can only hope that the quilt will be appreciated and valued more than a blanket from Walmart. It is rather disappointing to spend hours and dollars on a quilt and to see it misused or have it unappreciated, even to the point of not even a perfunctory thank you, but as someone else mentioned, when we give them away they are no longer ours and we should cut the strings and realize that we have no control and don't deserve any control, they aren't ours anymore. Once I sent about 5 quilts to a relatives children and I didn't hear anything for weeks. Finally I got thank yous, and now I see them treasured, they always use them and even travel with them, but it took awhile for any acknowledgement. I'll bet your son will love his quilt one day and I think that you handled it with grace and wisdom. Candacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07282145706665260731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-47405658786625061682012-09-27T01:02:07.482-04:002012-09-27T01:02:07.482-04:00Leah, I agree w/everything you said. I quilt FOR ...Leah, I agree w/everything you said. I quilt FOR ME. Great tip about stockpiling baby quilts. Thank you so very much!!!<br /> Linda Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16529181226593138996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-14176697418098600972012-09-26T18:39:04.454-04:002012-09-26T18:39:04.454-04:00Wow, your post really stikes a cord with me as I a...Wow, your post really stikes a cord with me as I am going through something similar right now - but not with a small child. I like what you have to say about giving quilts as gifts. I guess the bottom line is once the quilt is given, it is gone and no longer ours... it would probably help if we could cut the emotional cord to the quilt, also. It must have been difficult to share such a private story so publicly, but please know that you have really brightened my day today and given me new perspective on quilt and hand-made gift giving. I'm sure you've helped a lot of people. Thank you.Cynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00555820168461902203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-54884537642302543692012-09-26T17:20:59.953-04:002012-09-26T17:20:59.953-04:00Thanks so much for sharing this and for the good t...Thanks so much for sharing this and for the good tips about avoiding hurt feelings when gifting a handmade gift. I posted a link on QuiltingBoard.com so others could benefit from your experience and insights.kathyinkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16872935592701445933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-42319322639600519862012-09-26T16:25:01.899-04:002012-09-26T16:25:01.899-04:00Leah
I learnt much later in motherhood....the best...Leah<br />I learnt much later in motherhood....the best thing a child could give you besides their love was trust ....they know what ever they through at you you will always love them ... I think this is the best thing ever. Your son did this when he lost his cool over the quilt .... I read a book on motherhood that really emphasised this. <br />Melt downs in families are common, people don't talk about them But it's what you each learn from them a cuddle and love is the most important thing when we all cool down ...hate to tell you this will happen again ... Yep he will love the quilt and you will remember this weekend when you reach for that quilt ...don't hid the quilt ..use it ...it will show how you both have grown as a parent and child <br />Big hugLorrainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15603341553023233393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-28682769224842805792012-09-26T15:27:09.177-04:002012-09-26T15:27:09.177-04:00I love the quilt, very cute! It is possible that ...I love the quilt, very cute! It is possible that after some time your son won't remember his reaction to the quilt. Good luck on your goal of finishing your UFO's. Maybe I should set that for my 50th which is in 1 year and 2 weeks!ytsmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14373754376231819884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-76952861295389046552012-09-26T05:23:29.372-04:002012-09-26T05:23:29.372-04:00Your quilt for your son is beautiful. I am sure on...Your quilt for your son is beautiful. I am sure one day he will love it as much as you do. Thanks for sharing your story. I was hoping for a happy ending. And I got one. You made it for you and you love it!! Works for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-90042272836965725302012-09-26T00:06:25.793-04:002012-09-26T00:06:25.793-04:00Leah: I have so been there with my son. (My daught...Leah: I have so been there with my son. (My daughter was the oldest and would have never lashed out at anyone, but that is another story.) I explained to my son's preschool teacher how he just explodes at me when I get him home after a day at school and she said "He must be a really secure child. He knows he can give you his worst after being a really good boy all day long at school. He knows that you'll still love him." I didn't worry so much when he unleashed at home after that. He has grown into a lovely, sweet, giving and caring young man. I think James will be the same. <br /><br />Love your idea of stockpiling baby quilts! I can experiment and then give away something wonderful on a whim.janequiltsslowlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14079952744650435885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-4078744693231684922012-09-25T16:06:10.239-04:002012-09-25T16:06:10.239-04:00This post was very poignant. I felt your pain so m...This post was very poignant. I felt your pain so much that I cried, too. But part of the reason was remembering how nervous I was when I made a quilt for MY son this past April--however, he is 26 years old! The reason I was so nervous is that it was a 'portrait quilt' of his best friend--and his best friend had just died just two months before that. I felt, on the one hand, that it would help my son in the grieving process, but I feared that, on the other hand, he would not want that reminder hanging on his wall. I decided to let it go either way--if he wanted to hang it, that would be fine; if he wanted to put it away, out of sight, that would be ok, too--because the truth is, I needed to make it for ME as much as for my son. It was tremendously helpful to me in my own grieving process. Well, the day came when the portrait quilt was finished and my husband and I presented it to our son with nervous anticipation and stifled emotions. My son literally fell to his knees when he saw it. He cried, I cried (as I am crying now), and I think my husband got teary-eyed, too. Fortunately, my son wanted to hang it on his bedroom wall right away; he absolutely loved it. The interesting thing is, he moved to his first apartment about 3 weeks ago, and went I went over to see it, I don't remember seeing the quilt on the wall. I'm not sure whether it's there or not, but if it's not, I'm totally ok with it. I know he'll treasure it forever. My point is, if I hadn't made this quilt partly for my own satisfaction, I would indeed have had too much expectation invested in it. So Leah, you are right on with that advice. I suspect James will want this quilt someday, whether sooner or later. Either way, I'm so glad you finished it for yourself. Blessings for all you do and share.<br /><br />LindaLinda Wulf Koenighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05923385161588309971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-32966353240815735442012-09-24T14:58:32.125-04:002012-09-24T14:58:32.125-04:00I recently completed a beautiful quilt for my son ...I recently completed a beautiful quilt for my son and daughter in law for their bed. My son loved it and thanked me for it. I have yet to hear from my daughter in law. And I spent a large sum on this quilt as I wanted it to be the best for them. Just do not understand people and yes, it hurts.Dot Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17072000301456346894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-30543346202180890852012-09-24T13:36:15.213-04:002012-09-24T13:36:15.213-04:00One hundred years from now,
It won't matter wh...One hundred years from now,<br />It won't matter what car I drove,<br />What kind of house I lived in,<br />How much I had in my bank account,<br />Nor what my clothes looked like,<br />But, the world may be a little better<br />Because I was important in the life of a child.<br />- Unknown<br />My guess is that is wouldn't have mattered if the quilt was purple with pink polka dots, or black and white and orange. James is probably trying to tell you that he needs YOU, and not a quilt. When he is a grown up, he will not make you feel guilty for not making him a quilt by the time he is six. But he will always remember the day you chucked everything just for him and went to the park and played frisbee. The quilt to him is just one more thing that Mom has to finish up before he can talk to her, and he is already having a bad week. Leah, you are a terrific parent, and your love for James shows in every post. Yes, quilting is your passion, your work and your livelihood, but James is your Life. We will still all love and respect your work even if your UFO's are not done by the time you are 30. (Since I didn't start quilting until 38, do I get a pass on all the UFO's I've created since then?) Give James what he needs...your time. I know, you already spend loads of time with him every week, but sometimes a child needs all the time there is. And the quilt is really darling, and someday, it will be a special quilt for someone.quiltermomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06966454944918830540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-87689724982338715672012-09-24T11:44:58.820-04:002012-09-24T11:44:58.820-04:00Great lessons Leah. You're going to run into ...Great lessons Leah. You're going to run into that over and over as a parent. Glad you finished the quilt. LaneLanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17961668927812199081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-73675215368575880092012-09-24T08:35:37.576-04:002012-09-24T08:35:37.576-04:00It's a great quilt and he will love it ... eve...It's a great quilt and he will love it ... eventually. :DPathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12283575512727062312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-84791896829898237482012-09-23T23:10:52.558-04:002012-09-23T23:10:52.558-04:00At the risk of the being the odd one out - I too h...At the risk of the being the odd one out - I too hate this quilt; can't put my finger on the blah factor, but it just doesn't work for me. Melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10749535653004916440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-13825569375775644752012-09-23T22:30:17.225-04:002012-09-23T22:30:17.225-04:00You are truly intelligent in so many ways Leah. L...You are truly intelligent in so many ways Leah. Love your words of wisdom. You couldn't possibly know this, but those words came at the exact time I needed them. Thank you for that. I will most certainly heed your sage advice. Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10413958891184440549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-8377211744448829432012-09-23T21:45:10.041-04:002012-09-23T21:45:10.041-04:00Of course I always imagine a gift quilt will be lo...Of course I always imagine a gift quilt will be loved and appreciated. But I've always learned something---a new technique, or even something about myself, in making every single quilt. Soooo, whether or not the gift is loved does not matter. It was worth it either way because of everything I got out of the experience of making it.Anne's Househttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13668410307912445145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-90478349459181039392012-09-23T19:44:18.191-04:002012-09-23T19:44:18.191-04:00Aw... That's the thing about making quilts... ...Aw... That's the thing about making quilts... they take so much gosh darn time!! It's hard to not get emotionally attached to them. You're right that maybe they just don't really make good gifts. I have a few folks in my family who really appreciate them, a few who don't, and guess who gets more quilts made for them... I also have a very cherished quilt that my mom made. It's not really the pattern or the quilting that I love, but the fact that she MADE it with her hands, and I know how much effort and time it took. That's very special to me. So few things are made by hand now...Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14436825220887971278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-34795719769687611212012-09-23T17:22:25.950-04:002012-09-23T17:22:25.950-04:00I love your blog and how you show not just the how...I love your blog and how you show not just the how but the why too. I am just getting back into quilting after a 3 year hiatus and am so glad to be able to join in the UFO Sunday fun! I have tons of UFOs to finish and hope I can get a handle on why I leave so much undone and stop feeling so guilty about it. Learning how to FMQ is also on my short list - so can't wait. Thanks!Deb@asimplelifequiltshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13178872701953461660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-54760518036227544042012-09-23T17:09:27.721-04:002012-09-23T17:09:27.721-04:00I didn't read all the other posts, but finishi...I didn't read all the other posts, but finishing the quilt because it reminds you of the things he loves (loved) which can't be taken away by his varying tastes. I've been through this heartache. If you don't invest too much emotionally, you won't get hurt as bad. I love the quilt my self!<br /><br />Kriswordmamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07223539061981493778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-62382536059392310372012-09-23T16:07:54.813-04:002012-09-23T16:07:54.813-04:00I'm glad you finished the quilt anyway. Were i...I'm glad you finished the quilt anyway. Were it me, I would put this finished quilt away and bring it out sometime in the future to show again to your son. My feeling is with more maturity and perspective, he will value and treasure it! And perhaps instead of him getting to use it, he will give it to his own son someday. It could become quite a lovely legacy from you to him to his own son. Perhaps . . .Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08411276675470739086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-41010764521261490572012-09-23T14:39:14.060-04:002012-09-23T14:39:14.060-04:00Ah....this topic hit home! I just finished a quil...Ah....this topic hit home! I just finished a quilt for my son-in-law for Christmas....sure hopes he likes it....and am just finishing the binding on a baby quilt for a future (hopefully not that distant future) grandchild. I started thinking at the rate things were going - I might not be able to make a quilt for a grandbaby....and I had better do it while I can. I also have a stockpile of baby blankets (crocheted) simply because I like making them...and knowing someday I will have opportunity to give them to someone who will appreciate them.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00233979304711047518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-11997824051804402002012-09-23T13:57:04.235-04:002012-09-23T13:57:04.235-04:00Leah, how your reaction to your son's "me...Leah, how your reaction to your son's "meltdown" - your rational, kind, and supportive reaction - warmed my heart. Loving your child means remembering he is just a child and giving him what he needs and not demanding more than he can give. He will love you forever. He will be a kind man because you show him kindness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com